BMW X1 U.S. Launch On Indefinite Hold

The BMW X1 compact luxury crossover has been on sale in Europe and other parts of the globe for some time now, including in Canada, but the car is still nowhere to be seen in the automaker’s single biggest market, the U.S.

The X1 was originally meant to be launched earlier this year as a 2011 model but its arrival in U.S. showrooms was subsequently pushed back until fall.

The last we heard was that it was being delayed again, this time until the end of 2012.

Now BMW’s baby crossover isn’t expected to make it until the arrival of a facelifted version, sometime in 2013, and even then the model might not be offered in the U.S.

The key reason is a depreciating U.S. dollar, which makes it hard to bring the vehicle in profitably. Additionally, strong demand elsewhere in the world is tying up availability while strong sales of the bigger and more profitable X3 here in the States appears to be keeping customers satisfied.